This week's televisions ratings for World Series of Poker final table were up by about 50 percent from its broadcast last year, in part, because the show aired the same day play finished.


The number of viewers who watched 22-year-old Peter Eastgate win the main event and its $9.15 million prize was higher than the cable network's average for regular Season major league baseball and NBA games, stated The World Series of Poker.


Compared with roughly 1.25 million households in 2007, 1.9 million households tuned in to watch the final table.

The show's ratings were 18 percent higher than 2003, when Chris Moneymaker won the tournament. Moneymaker's win as an amateur is seen as the beginning of a boom for the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament. Participation in the event grew from then until 2003. It declined in 2007.


Organizers changed the format of the main event this year so the final table could be played closer to its airing on television. Before this year, the main event would finish in July but would not air on television for months.


The World Series of Poker has not explicitly said whether it would delay the final table again next year, but organizers have said television ratings would be one factor in the decision.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Sunday, 16 November 2008